What Is A WOD Grip And What Is A Gymnastic Grip?

When exercising, whether in an intensive workout program like Crossfit and competitive gymnastics, or casually working out, you may find yourself stopping often to apply chalk to your hands because of the sweat that is accumulating on your skin.

Exercise grips can be used in all aspects of the workout process, including pull-ups, high bars, rope climbing, and endless other situations. WOD grips are useful in particular because they protect your skin. There are many variations of these grips including: full finger coverage versus strapping around the base of the fingers, palm coverage material, and even wrist support.

Wrist support can be a simple strap to keep tension on your palm, or it can support the tendons and joints to restrain them from injury during the high intensity maneuvers of gymnastics.

Some WOD grips offer finger a dowel that produces a gap between your palm and the finger holes preventing pinching, as well as providing a gripping point for the crease in your fingers to aid in keeping the grips on.

Where are Hand Grips Used?

WOD Grips for Crossfit

Crossfit handgrips are important for any aspect of your workout of the day. During the intensive workout, you are likely to find your hands hurting due to the friction and constant strain on the palms of your hand from the lifting, pulling and sweating that you are doing.

Crossfit grips are a splendid solution to his problem because they provide palm protection from the rough bar and rope that you are exposed to. As our skin sweats, it becomes susceptible to abrasions and other causes of blisters, calluses and cuts. WOD gloves can solve this problem.

WOD Fitters handgrips provide a good level of protection to the palm of your hand for a workout like crossfit demands. The WODies 2-in-1 WOD grip is a great step up if you want more wrist support than the standard handgrips offer you. WODies grips offer great full palm protection for those extra intensive activities when you need that extra hand coverage.

Using gymnastic grips for crossfit is a possibility because there is overlap in the demands of the WOD grips, but there are some differences that are worth pointing out. Crossfit often doesn’t demand as supportive of wrist supports most of the time, so purchasing a more expensive grip that is overkill will do nothing but harm your financial situation.

Reading WOD grip reviews will give you a better understanding of how other people use their grips for crossfit to allow you decide the best one for you and allow you to compare the true strengths of a particular model.

Picking a model that has a good palm material that will break in within one workout session, while also being able to stay flexible during the middle of a workout and after absorbing a lot of sweat is crucial, because that can turn into more of a hindrance than a benefit.

Gymnastics Grips

Gymnastics generally involves more situations where grip is matter of serious injury or not, so having sure grip is a necessity. Gymnastics grips are similar to Crossfit grips, but with a few key differences.

There is a larger selection of gymnastics handgrips, ranging from beginner gymnastics grips, to simple handgrips, to high bar grips. Each has its own scenario and strength. A lot of gymnastics use chalk, but chalk can sometimes not be enough. If you can think back to the last time you watched a professional gymnast, chances are, you saw some sort of grip on their hand. This is used for two-fold.

The first is that it protects their hands from blisters and skin damage from the rough gym equipment. The other is that the leather and material that the gymnastics handgrips are made out of help them maintain contact with the bars or equipment that they are using at that moment despite the sweat that is on their hands. Gymnastics grips for beginners are often standard gymnastic palm grips with a wrist closure to keep it from falling off.

When shopping for the best grips available, keep an eye open for cheap gymnastic grips, because they will use a less than acceptable quality of material for the grip. This material will become stiff and not function appropriately when in the middle of a gymnastics routine. When performing a lot of swinging routines or similar types of maneuvers, you may find that the best thing for you is gymnastics bar grips.

They may give you that extra bit of confidence you need to complete the routine without worrying about your grip and kick up your intensity to a new level that you see noticeable differences in your scores from.

Weight Lifting Grips

Weight training is an essential part of personal fitness, so ensuring you have the right equipment to successfully complete that training is important. Weight lifting grips help ensure a good grip on the bar, which will aid in safe lifting during any workout session.

An unsure grip while lifting weights can cause injury to muscles from improper technique while trying to maintain contact with the bar, crushed bones and muscles from prematurely letting go and dropping the weights, and tears to the skin from unwanted bar drag. Lifting bars are rough and textured to allow for grip, however, this also causes people who lift often to have rough and callused hands.

Although not necessarily a bad thing, calluses can make the skin rough and more prone to cracking. Simply using weight lifting handgrips can save the palms of your hands. Grips for lifting weights often offer full hand protection, and that is something you want to look for.

They will provide your palms some much-needed relief from the stress of holding the bar, as well as supporting the strain on your hand. Wrist wraps for lifting are an added bonus to lifting grips and are sometimes found combined with the exercise grips. Different weight lifting grips feature special materials or wrist support systems, but the best weight lifting grips are ones that fit your hand comfortably, and maintain their shape and flexibility during the session.

The WODies 2-in-1 handgrip offers a good compromise of hand protection and wrist support. This WOD grip has a thick and durable palm fabric that will cushion the rough impact of the bar and allow for extended workouts. If weight-training grips aren’t your preference, you can go with weight lifting grip gloves. Gloves offer added protection and grip, however they are not as breathable, and may not be as durable in time.

Gym/Fitness/Workout Grips

General workouts and physical fitness can benefit from a set of workout grips as well as any other activity. WOD grips provide support in the weaker parts of our hands, and prevent strains in the tendons of our thumbs and fingers. Until the muscles are built in your hands, you will often feel a strain in your hands after casual weight training because of the pull that the equipment puts on it.

Using handgrips will allow you to workout for longer without feeling that strain during and after the exercises. WODFitters textured hand grips provide an excellent addition to your workout equipment that will provide support to the weak parts of your hands allowing for more reps with less pain. Although minimalistic, it provides a durable layer of protection that will help protect your hands from cuts and tears from the gritty workout equipment.

Fitness grips are designed in a way that allows them to virtually disappear from the wearer’s hand while supporting and aiding their workout process. Workouts are designed to be rough on the body because that is how muscles are built, but without protecting your hands, you will encounter some long and painful workout sessions when you develop blistered hands from the process.

Pull-Up Grips

Pull-ups are notorious for tearing up the palms of your hands because of the nature of having to resist slipping on the bar as you pull yourself up. From blisters to calluses, cuts to tears, anything is possible for skin damage from a pull-up. There are a few solutions including chalk, tape, gloves, and others, but the most simple and proven solution is a pull-up handgrip.

Pull-up grips provide a tough surface between your skin and the bar that provides the added friction necessary to relieve stress from your hands. Pull-up gloves are also an option, but they do not breathe as well, and react to chalk differently, so you may have to find a new substance to use, or give up chalk depending on the gloves you get. Handgrips for pull-ups are necessary to achieve a consistent workout routine because without, you would spend more time nursing hand injuries than you would strengthen the muscles that were targeted originally.

The best pull-up grips are grips like the WODFitters grips, or ones similar in concept. Pull-ups don’t require a bulky brace and wrist support, but rather a surface to protect your palms. Taping the bar might help, but tape degrades with time and a handgrip will remain useful and intact for many workout routines, making it an essential investment.

Factors and Features to Consider When Buying Hand Grips

Material

The material that your hand grips are made out of is one of the most important factors to keep in mind. The thicker and more durable the material is, the longer the gloves will last, but a good pair of gloves should also be made out of material that is comfortable as well. For both of these applications, leather is one of the best choices available. A good pair of leather hand grips will be both incredibly durable and comfortable for you to use.

Buckle Vs Velcro

This one can often come down to just a personal preference. Buckle grips are more secure and less likely to come undone during your routine, making them more popular among high level athletes. Velcro grips, however, are easier to adjust and overall more comfortable.

Size

Before you buy a pair of hand grips, make sure you get the right size. To determine your hand size, take a ruler or tape measure and measure the length from your middle finger to the bottom of your palm. Compare this measurement to the size charts that the company provides and choose the size that will fit you best.

Brand

Choosing the right brand may not be the first thing you think of, but it is an important factor to consider. The best brands are known for taking meticulous care in choosing the best materials and most effective manufacturing processes when making their hand grips. Choosing to buy from a brand that is well-known and renowned increases the chances that you will find the best pair of hand grips for you.

Customer Feedback

One of the best ways to learn more about gymnastic and WOD grips is to read reviews of customers who have used the grips before. Customer reviews provide a unique window into just how good the grips really are, giving you valuable information that you may not have found in the product description alone. Before you purchase a pair of hand grips, make sure you read up on a few reviews.

Our Top 5 Best WOD Grips Reviews

ViperSportsWear Textured Leather Wod Grips

These grips are sold with a lifetime warranty and a carrying pouch. Like other WOD grips, they protect your hands from getting and ripping off callouses, something no serious weightlifter has no time for. It prevents slippage from very heavy bar lifting from the textured leather, and the convenient hook-and-loop straps make it more comfortable to lift heavy weights.

They also help keep a safe grip when doing workouts like high rep pull ups, ring dips, toes-to-bar, bar muscle ups, kettlebell swings, and many other exercises that would otherwise be difficult for your hands. There are three different sizes of grip: 4”, 4”-4 ¾”, and larger than 4 ¾”.

WODies 2in1 WOD Grips

These gloves are more durable than the WODFitters, as is reflected in their price. They are handmade USA products designed by athletes for athletes. They are made of high quality, hypo-allergenic latex-free woven elastic, and they absorb sweat and chalk for even more grip.

The WODies grips are designed specifically to provide a “natural glide” while using bars during work outs so there isn’t any bunching or pinching while lifting or doing pull ups. They breathe very well, preventing your hands from becoming overheated or creating more sweat for your grips to handle.

WODies come in a variety of colors, too. The sizes are 3”-3.5” (small), 3.5”-4” (medium), 4”-4.75” (large), and 4.75”-5” (extra-large). These sizes are very specific and unique to each glove, so it is highly recommended that you measure your hands before ordering, and not just guessing. Size is determined by measuring from the base of the palm to the base of the middle finger.

Bear KompleX Grips

These grips are specifically fashioned for Crossfit. They are made of leather and do not dig into your wrists as you work out. They come with a two finger option and a three finger option, depending on your predilection. What makes the Bear KompleX Grips special is its durable triple stitching.

The wear and tear typical on grips is not customary with these gloves because of their heavy duty design. On top of this, Bear KompleX Grips has a motto printed on every grip it sells. “Get Better” will be what you see as you perform the last few reps of your last set. It’s what you will see as you finish out that final set of push-ups.

It’s what you’ll see when you’re straining and fighting for that last pull up you need to complete the set. Bear KompleX is all about making you stronger, tougher, and faster, and that’s how their logo will help you “Get Better.”

Mava WOD Grips

The Mava WOD grip gloves have six colors to choose from, those being black, blue, lime, orange, pink, and red. These extremely durable gloves are made with neoprene and are reinforced with split leather as well as a silicone layer. What you hold to lift will not move unless you open your palm.

The grip provided by the silicone layer adds extra grip and comfortability while working out or cross fitting. The neoprene acts as an anti-sweat layer in your gloves, keeping your hands dry and your grip strong. Something unique about these gloves is their oversized wrist straps.

They offer the utmost stability to your wrists when handling massive weights. One perk from Mava is that if you aren’t satisfied with your gloves, you can send them back within thirty days for a full refund with no questions asked.

Nicholas Hill Leather Grips

The padding is thicker than most other grips on the market strictly for durability, and it is punched with more expensive circle holes rather than cheaper square holes specifically for your comfortability. Nicholas Hill grips are made with 12” long straps that are 3” wide, providing incredible support from the wrist up.

They have double stitched 2.5” elastic thumb loops that can be adjusted and pulled into any position for the most comfort. Nicholas Hill offers customers a ninety day trial for its gloves, and if you aren’t satisfied, you can send them back for a full reimbursement with no questions asked.

Our Top 5 Gymnastic Grips Reviews

Reisport Men’s High Bar Grips

Reisport provides the most popular gymnastic grips in the world. The Swiss made grips are constructed with three finger holes and a small rubber dowel. They have a hook and loop closure, and come in four sizes: up to 6” (extra-small), 6”-6.5” (small), 6.5”-7.25” (medium), and 7.25” and higher (large).

They are worth every penny. They provide support and grip for the most complex of gymnastics moves and are incredibly durable. They are used by the world’s top gymnastic competitors, and that’s not just a coincidence.

Customers who purchased Reisport High Bar Grips have on average rated this product with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.

Gibson Athletic Single Buckle Just Right Uneven Bar Grips

The Gibson Athletic Grips are made of very high quality leather and enclose the wrist with a single buckle closure. They are an American made brand and product and come solely in the color white. These gloves are only made for hands with hands measuring 7”-7.5”.

They are incredibly easy to break in, and they’re designed for girls who prefer to have a narrow grip over the palm. They are great for girls just starting to use grips as well, and helps them quickly become used to a new side of more advanced gymnastics.

While they are typically purchased with a single buckle, they are conveniently available with a double buckle or in Velcro, and for this reason it is preferred by many young, aspiring gymnasts. The Gibson Athletic Bar Grips are highly respected as starter and rookie gymnastic grips for training girls.

They come in a narrow grip or a regular grip, making them more suitable to your needs as a gymnast. The grips break in in approximately thirty minutes, and the leather will not stretch when in use. Ginnasta grips also come with single or double buckle as well as Velcro, depending on your preference.

What sets Ginnasta grips apart is their dowel stitching. It is machine sewn, and the quality of the thread used is double the weight of industrial standards.

They break in very easily, but be warned, the leather is not as durable for elite gymnasts. Several customers have mentioned that their grips have lasted a few months before needing new ones because their caliber of gymnastics was too high for the grips to keep up with.

Ten-O Gymnastic Grips

Ten-O is known for distributing a variety of gymnastic grips and are one of the best ways to go if you are looking for an affordable pair of grips.

This company may not produce their own line of gymnastic grips, but the grips they have for sale are still top-notch.

Where can you Get Gymnastic Grips?

Gymnastic grips are available at a wide variety of stores, especially retail stores that carry sporting goods supplies. While you can find them in stores such as these, your options might be limited. To find the largest selection of hand grips, consider searching online retailers such as Amazon or even ordering directly from the manufacturer’s website.

Websites such as these offer the widest selection of hand grips and are also known for deeply discounting their prices. They also provide you with direct access to customer reviews and other valuable information that will help you in making your decision.

Summary

Hand grips are a crucial piece of equipment for any serious athlete to own. Whether you are participating in gymnastics, weightlifting, Crossfit, or any number of activities, owning a good pair of hand grips is almost a necessity. Hand grips allow you to always maintain a good, solid grip on whatever equipment you may be using.

To start, this makes your workout much safer, but it also makes it more effective since your equipment doesn’t slip between your hands. Hand grips are also crucial for preventing painful blisters and abrasions from occurring on your palms and fingers.

As important as it is to own a good pair of hand grips though, there are plenty of factors to consider before you purchase. By following the instructions in this guide, considering what you will be using your grips for, and researching the hand grips that have been recommended, you can easily find a great pair of hand grips.

Research carefully, read through a few customer reviews, then go and purchase a pair of grips that will help you become a better, stronger athlete.

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